THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS

This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.

Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.

Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&handling) for each page to:

Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418

We have a great friend in Gary Godard. He has set up an archive page. To view ALL the prior devotions by Scripture, just clik

HERE

Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the books of Genesis through 2Kings are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for COMMENTARY ON (BOOK NAME) to the address above.

Isaiah

CHAPTER 7

1 And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it. 2 And it was told the house of David, saying, Syria is confederate with Ephraim. And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind. 3 Then said the LORD unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shear-jashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field; 4 And say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah. 5 Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have taken evil counsel against thee, saying, 6 Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeal: 7 Thus saith the Lord GOD, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.

After Uzziah died, Jotham reigned for 16 years (2Chronicles 27:1). Then, Jotham's son, Ahaz was king of Judah.

It was during Ahaz's leadership that Israel (the Northern ten tribes) joined in a partnership with Syria to rebel against Assyria. Assyria had forcefully caused both Syria and Israel to become "puppet-kingdoms."

Pekah, who was king of Israel at the time, had brought forces against Judah (See 2Chronicles 28). Ahaz was the king of Judah, and he had sinned greatly against God by leading the nation into idol-worship.

Isaiah was sent to Ahaz. He was to take his son "Shear-jashub" with him. Shear-jashub means "a remnant shall return." The presence of Isaiah's son would assure Ahaz of a promise from God that Judah would not be completely destroyed.

The message Isaiah was to deliver to Ahaz was that both Syria and Israel WOULD be destroyed, and their kingdoms would no longer exist.

God was making a way for the Hebrews to continue in existence until they delivered MESSIAH! When Cain killed Abel, God gave Adam and Eve another son - Seth. It was through Seth that God chose to deliver Messiah. He preserved the descendency of Seth, and from that came the Hebrew nation out of Abraham. Then God chose Isaac, Abraham's son; and then God chose Jacob, Isaac's son, and the Hebrew nation was begun with the twelve sons of Jacob. Then God had prophesied that JUDAH would be the son through whom Messiah would come (See Genesis 49:10).

Now ALL of the descendents of Jacob (all twelve tribes) had sinned greatly through idol-worship. But God had PROMISED Messiah would come through JUDAH's descendents. And God was assuring Ahaz that He would be TRUE TO HIS PROMISE!

Ahaz had sinned himself in leading the nation in idolatry. God did not reprove him for that. The reproof God was sending of captivity and loss of international prominence. But God did promise that the nation would have a REMNANT which would return.

Friends, God will always make a way for His promises to come true even through the sins of man!!

God also promised that the alliance between Syria and Israel would "not stand" (verse 7). These two nations would both fall and cease to exist.

Take note of what God says in verse 5. The REASON those two nations would fall was because they had devised an evil plot against Judah. Friends, it does not pay to devise a plot against God's chosen!

Now, this is important: The prophecy Isaiah gave to Ahaz was probably in the year 735BC.

8 For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people. 9 And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah's son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.

The king of Syria was Rezin who reigned in the city of Damascus. The king of Israel was Pekah (Remaliah's son), and reigned in the city of Samaria. They would BOTH be cut off within 65 years.

Now, history records that Syria fell in 732BC, just 2 years after Isaiah's prophecy. Samaria fell in 722BC, just 12 years after Isaiah's prophecy. The 65 years is possibly a reference to the fact that by that time, the people in both nations would cease to exist as a nation. It is interesting to note that exactly 65 years later (669BC) there was a resettling of the land, but Jews and Syrians were not much a part of that resettling at all.

Friends, ALL of God's Word is true. And the prophecy SHALL COME TO PASS!!

10 Moreover the LORD spake again unto Ahaz, saying, 11 Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. 12 But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD. 13 And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 15 Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. 16 For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.

God gave Isaiah another "word" for Ahaz. If Ahaz had any doubt about the truth of the prophecy, he was to ask a "sign." He was to ask for a supernatural event from God which would SHOW him the truth of God's Word.

Ahaz answered as if he truly trusted God (verse 12). He certainly had a head knowledge of God's Word. Because God's Word says, "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God" (Deuteronomy 6:16).

But God and Isaiah both knew that Ahaz intended to make an alliance with Assyria (2Chronicles 16:28).

Therefore, God gave Isaiah another prophecy which applied to that day, and also to a future day.

The prophecy was that a virgin would conceive and bear a son. That son would not be old enough to discern right from wrong on his own before Syria and Israel would be destroyed (verses 15-16). The age of a child to discern right from wrong in that day was considered to be 12 or 13 years.

Isaiah married another woman (obviously a chaste virgin). ((See Isaiah 8:1-4)). This woman gave birth to a son whom he named "Mahershalalhashbaz," which means "hasten spoil." Before this child was 12 years old, both Israel and Syria were destroyed!

But the prophecy also had a future reference. That reference is to Messiah. A "virgin" (Mary) conceived miraculously by the Lord God's intervention, and had a child named JESUS! His name is called "Immanuel" (verse 14)-- meaning GOD WITH US! Jesus is God in the flesh!

17 The LORD shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy father's house, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah; even the king of Assyria. 18 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria. 19 And they shall come, and shall rest all of them in the desolate valleys, and in the holes of the rocks, and upon all thorns, and upon all bushes. 20 In the same day shall the Lord shave with a rasor that is hired, namely, by them beyond the river, by the king of Assyria, the head, and the hair of the feet: and it shall also consume the beard. 21 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall nourish a young cow, and two sheep; 22 And it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk that they shall give he shall eat butter: for butter and honey shall every one eat that is left in the land. 23 And it shall come to pass in that day, that every place shall be, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings, it shall even be for briers and thorns. 24 With arrows and with bows shall men come thither; because all the land shall become briers and thorns. 25 And on all hills that shall be digged with the mattock, there shall not come thither the fear of briers and thorns: but it shall be for the sending forth of oxen, and for the treading of lesser cattle.

It is God Who determines where men shall be born and live (Acts 17:26). And it is God Who determines the boundaries of kingdoms.

In this prophecy, Isaiah says that one day God will "hiss" and call Egypt to fight against Assyria. The two will make Judah a desolate and barren land (verse 19). The people will be reduced to great poverty (verses 21-25).

That battle did happen. It was in that battle that Josiah, king of Judah died (2Chronicles 35:20-27). After that, the kingdom of Judah became a tributary of Egypt.

CHAPTER 8

1 Moreover the LORD said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man's pen concerning Maher-shalal-hash-baz. 2 And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah. 3 And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the LORD to me, Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz. 4 For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria.

This action is reinforcement of the prophecy which Isaiah gave Ahaz in Chapter 7 (verses 10-16).

5 The LORD spake also unto me again, saying, 6 Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's son; 7 Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks: 8 And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.

Isaiah now prophecies that Assyria will come and destroy Judah. He will come even to the "neck," or to the capitol, Jerursalem.

Assyria did this in the days of Hezekiah, who was king after Ahaz. But God heard the prayers of Isaiah and Hezekiah, and He saved Jerusalem.

However, the nation of Judah suffered greatly from the marching armies of Assyrian forces.

I think one of the key verses here is verse 8. "O Immanuel" obviously refers to the land of Judah. Truly God was with them. He was with them in promise.

But my friends, God will not keep even His own people from the disastrous results of their own premeditated sins! Even though God was with Judah to preserve a "remnant" so that Messiah would come from them, He did not keep them from the rod of chastisement which came at the hands of Assyrian forces.

9 Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces. 10 Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.

WARNING!! WARNING!! WARNING!!

Do NOT try and make alliances in order to thwart God's purposes!! It WILL NOT work!!

Judah has heard the prophecy that Assyria will come against them, and eventually they will be taken into captivity by the Babylonians. Trying to make alliances with Syria and Israel will NOT help them out of that promise from God!

Friends, when God has specifically stated that something will happen, we can do NOTHING to change it! For instance: God has said that 1/3 of the earth will be "burned up" (Revelation 8:7). And we can, with confidence, say that the Middle East will NOT be in that 1/3!! Because when Jesus comes physically to earth the second time, He will rule and reign in JERUSALEM! Therefore, that 1/3 of the earth which is burned up will NOT be in the Middle East, or specifically in the area of Israel as it is today (2002AD).

NO alliance of nations can stop that!

11 For the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying, 12 Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. 13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. 14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Instead of trying to conduct policy in the Middle East according to alliances and confederacies, nations of the world should be turning to God and begging Him to be the Master and Saviour of their lives.

God promises that if people will turn to Him, He will become as a "sanctuary" for them. He will be their "hiding place," and shelter.

The SAFEST place on earth is in the center of God's will!

15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken. 16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. 17 And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. 18 Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.

There are still "many," even in Jersulem and in Israel today that are "snared" by blindness to God's truths.

The statement Isaiah makes in verse 16, tells us that the book of the Bible is ONLY understandable by those who have truly surrendered to God through Christ, and are become His "disciples."

Friends, God did not come to earth to make Christians. He came to make disciples!

The term "Christian" refers to people who are affiliated with a religion. The term "disciple" refers to a person who has determined to honor and STUDY about what his Master TEACHES! There are millions who call themselves Christians: Perhaps because of various reasons. Perhaps because they were raised in church, or perhaps because they intellectually believe in the person and redemptive work of Jesus for mankind. Perhapse they believe because they had an emotional experience, or maybe it's simply because being a Christian is a social thing with them.

But a REAL Christian is someone who has surrendered to Jesus Christ, and is studying the Bible. He is trying to learn and grow so that he can be productive and useful to his Master!

The difference between some people who call themselves Christians, and real disciples is COMMITMENT! Isaiah had that commitment. He determined that he and his family wold follow the word of GOD (Verse 18)

19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? 20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. 21 And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward. 22 And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.

Why should people consult the DEAD for advice about LIVING? All the knowledge dead people might have only got them DEATH! Why not seek GOD?!?

If a person doesn't speak according to the Word of God, then that person has NO LIGHT! He has not been born again and the light of Christ does not reside in him. Therefore, what LASTING advice can he give?

People without God just "pass through" life and never come to the realization of the MEANING of it. They never realize that God is a real person and wants to have genuine fellowship with them.

When these people run into problems they will curse and blame ANYONE or ANYTHING for their problems. As a pastor I have heard people who called themselves Christians blame God for losing a wife, a husband, a child, or a business.

Then, when they can't get an answer from God, they look to the things of the earth. There they only find "darkness," because life is UNCERTAIN, BRIEF and FULL OF TROUBLE!

God has promised us eternal life by grace through faith. And His eternal life has no sickness, disease, death or sin. But THIS LIFE has plenty of ALL of those! God has said so. We shall not escape the tragedies of life, it is part of living!

But our faith in God should make us soar ABOVE the tragedies of life like Isaiah. He committed to loving and believing God REGARDLESS of what may happen.

When a person is filled with God's Holy Spirit, he can not help but love and praise and believe God IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES.

PLEASE CONTINUE IN BIBLE STUDY WITH US TOMORROW.